The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16
Chronic RemOnstrance.

The Press uni Banner doubtless means well
but il has certainly got rpmnnStrance ON the
brain: and il any hing should happen t. our
I'D Abbevile friend, people will say OF him
Or fellow he died of remonstrance on the
brain. When IL comes to our Courts the Pres,
,nd Runner ruffleS by first intention.
The last Court caper that has provoked the
re OF the Saic Of ipng Cane is the me- C"Grt oid q
Abbevil!p. Lays the irate sage:
"Just think Of 1t. A $500 Judge, n 81 ,6GO
solicitor, with Sheriff, Clerk, Stenographer
AMI a company OF court cons!aoIes, ana l1.. tne
good and lawful men called here from every
:orner Of the conniy, sitting In solemn diGni-
y to find oHt whether a negro has stolen a
dollar and half hog. II IL scarcely possible
ever dreamed of more ahsurdiy ridiculous
proceeding The hog case and q few other
.:,srs which were tried at this court, would
scarcely maintain the dignity of good Trial
iue: ices office"
We'll, rs we are hidden to "think Of IT," we
sill do so. Does our sage contemporary
think for moment that the trial involved
The sending OF that colored man 10 the penl'
That Icing the case. would he have 80 grave
, matter tried by ~ Trial Justice? And II s",
yulld we have white man charged with the
same oilense Iried In the same way? And u
%, would We give the Trinl Justice Court fnal
Jurisdiction In such cases involving + painful
imprisonment with all itS terrible Incidents? /?
Wonld 1t be right und proper TO submit 80
solemn matter to any Court OF less dignity
rhnn that of the Circuit Courtf
The law of 1878 provides:
ANY person found guilty Of the larceny OF
any horse. mule, COW, hog. OF any other i've
St0rk, shall suffer imprisonment In the stale
Prnitcntinry at hard labor for period OF not
less than one year nor more than two yenrR,
ANA such fine as the Court in Its discretion
may SEE tit To impose.
Would the Press and Banner entrust Trial
Justice Court with Jurisdiction of an uffense
with such renulties attached? When and
where In the history Of South Carolina has any
Court tor an Offense carrying such penalties?
Duee not the Press and Banner know that this
stealing hog is made II felony by the act?
And would our contemporary have colored
freeman enjoy less protection than white
one? II lie does the Constitution 0f the State
and the United dSiateS-Article AlV-forold IL.
But would the Press and Banner. 10 satisfy
It's notion OF dignity, or TO save the money In.
vOlved In q trial befni e the Circuit Court, send
white and black alike on such nn of1ense TO a
,'riul Justice Court for trial? Stealing hog,
having been made felony, we see Section ~
of the State Constitution pSovldes:
"All utfenses. less than felony, and In
which the punishment does not e1ceed fine OF
800 OF imprisonment for thirty days, shall be
.ried sumInnrIiy before a Justice OF the Peace,
or other officer authorized by law. on infor.
nation under oath, without Indictment or In.
tervention of Il grand jury, saving the defend.
ant the right Of appeal; and no person shnH he
held TO answer for any high-rcrine or ohense
on presentment of grand jury. except In
.aseS arising in the land and naval service or
Of war;
l.ThinE of l." inheedi